Old Granada Studios to be hub of St John’s cultural offer

MANCHESTER’s eagerly anticipated new neighbourhood St John’s has unveiled its vision for a combined arts, culture and creative business district.

With plans underway to start building in 2016, developer Allied London is working in partnership with Manchester City Council to build a new cultural community that supports a creative business network and hosts unique, world-class events.

Manchester is fast carving out a cultural scene to rival London, Brighton and Edinburgh, with the arrival of HOME and the reopening of Whitworth Gallery supporting the natural evolution of new creative hotspots throughout the city.

Allied London’s Old Granada Studios, which will become St John’s events hotel, is the latest development to contribute to this growing community.

Allied London chief executive Michael Ingall said: “After hosting some of Manchester International Festival’s must-see events at Old Granada Studios, we are looking forward to inviting artists and musicians from all over the world to not just perform, but make their home at St. John’s.”

St John’s recently announced the launch of a unique large-scale arts venue ‘The Factory’, which will play host to Manchester International Festival’s new HQ and support up-and-coming talent on a global stage.

Ingall continued: “Manchester has a rich cultural history that is world-renowned, but lacks a central space where the city’s creatives can form their own community. We’re working with some of Manchester’s most engaging and inspiring artists to make this city the top cultural destination, with St. John’s at its epicentre.”

The first phase of the development comprises two standout venues, the Bonded Warehouse and an events hotel, both due to start construction in 2016.

The events hotel will provide distinctive performance spaces for both independent and internationally recognised artists, whilst the refurbished Bonded Warehouse will support local enterprise with studio spaces, trading platforms, and creative workspace as well as providing the very best in leisure offerings.

The first phase of St John’s will also include the building of phase one of The Villages, a community of low-rise lateral living units in the heart of the St. John’s cultural community.